- Title
- Finding authenticity in an altruistic identity: The "lived" experience of health care humanitarians deployed to the 2014 Ebola crisis
- Creator
- McCormack, Lynne; Bamforth, Samantha
- Relation
- Traumatology Vol. 25, Issue 4, p. 289-296
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/trm0000171
- Publisher
- Sage
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2019
- Description
- The 2014 Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, West Africa, was a public health crisis that triggered international fear, border shutdowns, and a declaration of an unprecedented international public health emergency. However, no known research has explored the subjective experience of international humanitarian health care workers deployed to provide on-the-ground support during the Ebola epidemic. This phenomenological study explored the subjective interpretations of 5 career-international Red Cross/Red Crescent health care delegates who deployed to the 2014 Ebola epidemic. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, transcribed, and analyzed using the protocols of interpretative phenomenological analysis. One superordinate theme: Beyond human fear and catastrophe: I can't save you, but I am here; overarched four subordinate themes: Calm amidst hysteria; Living in a pressure cooker; Journeying alone; Altruistic authenticity. These themes reflect the heavy burden felt by these participants in response to a strong altruistic call-"Who will go if I do not?" "Like no other" humanitarian deployment, unquestionable allegiance and trust among in-the-field colleagues were the only barriers against sudden and untreatable death. Official and societal criticism postdeployment precipitated social retreat wherein feelings of isolation and invalidation threatened psychological well-being. However, a strong sense of altruistic commitment remained unwavering and protective against psychological debilitation, as did positive support from the deploying organization. Despite daily confrontation with death, hypervigilance, and fear, altruistic purpose remained the beacon for professional and personal integrity in these participants. It counterbalanced the distress of isolation and invalidation from societal criticism. We recommended that strength-based predeployment humanitarian training is prioritized by deploying organizations.
- Subject
- Ebola; humanitarians; altruistic identity; authenticity; psychological growth
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1419284
- Identifier
- uon:37437
- Identifier
- ISSN:1534-7656
- Rights
- © 2019. Reprinted by permission of SAGE publications
- Language
- eng
- Full Text
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